The battlefield was still thick with lingering smoke and dust, remnants of the clash between immortals and demons.
Broken rocks and scorched earth stretched as far as the eye could see, each scar marking the ferocity of the earlier struggle.
Zhang Xiaofan stood at the center, his chest rising and falling heavily.
The sword in his hand shimmered faintly, its dragon-shaped aura gradually dissipating into the void.
The technique he had just unleashed...Slaying Ghosts and Gods....was a move known only from legends, said to have the power to cut down even gods and Buddhas that blocked one's path.
Across from him, Elder Nian's face drained of color. His aged features, carved by centuries of demonic cultivation, twisted in a mixture of fear and disbelief.
"Slay… ghosts and gods?" he muttered, retreating half a step instinctively.
The sight of that sword aura had awakened memories long buried.
Centuries ago, before he had reached his current peak, he and countless demonic cultivators had stormed Qingyun Sect.
Victory had been within their grasp....until the previous sect leader, Tianchengzi, summoned the dreaded Zhuxian Sword, turning triumph into disaster.
The demonic legions had been shattered, and in the chaos of retreat, another nightmare descended upon them:
a man in white robes, whose swordsmanship was unmatched under the heavens.
That man was Wan Jianyi, the Sword Saint of Qingyun.
His most renowned technique was none other than Slaying Ghosts and Gods.
With a single sweep, he had cut down demons by the thousands, pursuing them across mountains and rivers until the remnants of their forces cowered in despair.
Now, as Elder Nian stared at the young man before him, he felt the same suffocating pressure he had once felt facing Wan Jianyi.
Though Zhang Xiaofan was but a youth, the dragon-shadow sword aura he wielded was unmistakable.
Panic clawed at his heart. Instinctively, Elder Nian moved behind the beautiful female demon cultivator beside him, using her slender form as a living shield.
The woman's expression changed instantly. Anger and resentment flashed in her eyes.....how shameless, to use her as cover! Yet the sword qi was already upon them. With no time to evade,
she gritted her teeth, forming the seals of the Immortal Binding Ropes.
Red light blazed forth, weaving into a net of spiritual force that wrapped around her body in a desperate defense.
"Roar!"
The Azure Dragon formed by Zhang Xiaofan's sword aura let out a deafening cry. Its roar pierced the woman's ears like needles, making her vision blu.
A heartbeat later, the dragon shadow ripped through the red net as if it were paper, slamming mercilessly into her chest.
"Crack… crack… crack…"
The sound of shattering bones echoed as her body was flung back dozens of meters, crashing to the ground like a broken kite. Blood trailed through the air, staining the battlefield crimson.
Elder Nian let out a long breath of relief. Fortunate, he thought with a sneer, that she bore the brunt of the strike.
Otherwise, I would have suffered grievously.
But the dragon aura had not fully dissipated. With its momentum still raging, the Azure Dragon curved in midair and hurtled straight at him.
This time, Elder Nian could not hide. His eyes narrowed, and the fear in his gaze shifted into grim determination. "Red Demon Eye!" he roared.
A slit appeared upon his forehead, tearing open to reveal a massive, blood-red eye.
With his palm pressed against it, he channeled his demonic essence. Scarlet light burst forth, condensing into a barrier.
"Boom!"
The dragon aura collided with the Red Demon Eye, creating a thunderous explosion that shook the earth. For a moment, the world was filled with blinding light.
Then, the Azure Dragon shattered into fragments, dissipating into nothingness.
Elder Nian staggered, his face pale, but the technique had been stopped.
Zhang Xiaofan landed heavily on the ground, his breath ragged.
He glanced coldly at the female demon cultivator lying motionless, perhaps dead, perhaps clinging to life. His eyes hardened.
"This," he said, his voice laced with icy fury, "is the price of bullying my Naiqi."
The name struck Lu Xueqi like a bolt of lightning. Her lips parted, ready to rebuke him. Naiqi?
How dare he call me so casually! Yet as the words rose in her throat, they faltered.
She recalled how he had struck down their enemy for her sake, risking his life again and again.
A warmth spread in her chest, softening her heart against her will.
Junior Brother Zhang… Two years ago, you bestowed upon me the Great Brahma Prajna, a priceless treasure.
At the Seven Clans Martial Arts Competition, you spared me from serious injury.
And now, once more, you've shielded me from mortal danger. How can I possibly repay such debt?
Her hand trembled slightly on the hilt of her sword. To pledge myself to him? No...there is no love between us yet, only gratitude.
To bind myself to him so lightly would dishonor both of us. Yet my own strength is insufficient to return these favors… Could it be… must Master Shuiyue repay him in my stead?
Her thoughts swirled in turmoil, but before she could settle them, familiar voices rang out.
"Xiaofan! Junior Brother Zhang! Junior Sister Lu!"
Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu emerged from the haze, their swords drawn, their eyes wide as they took in the scene.
When they saw the female demon collapsed on the ground, they spared her only a glance before turning to Zhang Xiaofan.
"I've exhausted my mana," Zhang Xiaofan said with calm resolve.
He lowered himself onto a stone platform, sitting cross-legged. "You three go on. I will recover here."
Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu exchanged a look. The dragon's roar earlier still rang in their ears. Respect and awe colored their expressions.
"You've worked hard, Junior Brother," Qi Hao said solemnly. "Rest well. From here on, leave it to us."
With that, he turned his gaze toward Elder Nian, his eyes cold and murderous.
He raised his Ice Sword and barked, "Junior Brother Zeng, Junior Sister Lu....attack!"
The three disciples of Qingyun surged forward. Elder Nian scoffed at them with disdain.
With a wave of his palm, the Red Demon Eye blazed once more, shooting a blood-red beam straight toward Qi Hao.
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